Whilst the scoreline may read 4-0, that doesn’t reflect how Gary Holt feels about his Livingston side’s efforts against Celtic.
Goals from Odsonne Edouard, Scott Brown and a James Forrest double ensured Celtic got revenge on Livi who had previously beaten them 2-0.
Holt is proud of his players following the result and believes they lived with the hosts.
He told the Sunday Post (sport, page 3, 24/11/19): “I know everyone will pick up the papers and look at it as 4-0 but I thought we were well in the game.
“Sometimes when you come here, and they score the goals they can do, you say ‘fair enough’. Today I just thought individual mistakes at times in the game cost us. For effort and commitment and all the things you look for, team shape, being brave at times in possession, I thought we had.
“But, you take the goals out the game, they never cut us open too many times and bent one in from 20-yards or scored the world class goals they score.”
Celtic clash won’t define Livingston’s season
With the gulf in quality and finances between the two sides, only in rare circumstances will Livingston be able to turn their workmanlike performances against Celtic into points.
Last time out was one of those meetings and they would need an even better performance against a Celtic side hungry for revenge. An early goal had Livi on the backfoot from the off.
Holt doesn’t seem too displeased though and he shouldn’t be. Games like this won’t define Livi’s season, it’s the games like next weekend’s home match against Hamilton that will.
They’re now just two points off the bottom though with no wins in six. Next weekend’s match against Accies could be a huge one for Holt.